Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
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T
he Journal has been going long enough orthodox therapies are mainly concerned
now to notice some interesting with helping to suppress the symptoms
trends. Firstly, it is clear that people associated with menopause, Ms Totah
want to write about their work. Secondly, points out that this period of life is an
and surprisingly to us, there is very little opportunity for the woman to develop
real scientific research going on out there another aspect of her power and dealing
in the field of somatic energy therapy. On with the discomfort of the symptoms
the other hand, maybe that isn’t so is an important factor in any
surprising. Plenty of people are articulating strengthening process.
their experience, like Hilary Totah in her In a society which values comfort
article on menopause in this issue but, as Peter and convenience above all, it is difficult to
den Dekker points out in his article “In Search of speak out for the value of facing your discomfort
Style”, Shiatsu is not a therapy that can be applied and becoming stronger as a result. Scott Peck eloquently
objectively; touch is relationship and so the way in which promotes this idea in his series of books on relationships
someone is touched is almost more important than the and life and den Dekker recalls that these ideas have deep
technique or placement used. This makes it very difficult roots: the Huang Ti Nei Jing recommends Qi Gong and
to conduct objective, repeatable research. Spiritual Practice for “complaints of prosperity”. These
The forms of research that have been published in both emphasise activity on the part of the “patient” rather
this Journal have, in the main, been case studies, which than a passive posture of being treated by an expert and are
give inspiration to others’ practice, but prove nothing particularly appropriate to our society, which is moving
scientifically. Another form, statistical research and audit fast towards passive consumerism.
studies, like Nicola Pooley and Philip Harris' report in this We have a choice: whether to promote the dominant
issue, are scientifically valid. This form does not contribute view of medicine as a suppresser of symptoms by using
directly to the development of Oriental Body Therapy but Shiatsu and other Oriental Body Therapies in the same
is useful in communicating the value of what we do to the way or, on the other hand, to use these therapies to develop
orthodox medical professions and to the politicians who awareness and evolution in the life of the client. This
make the laws under which we practice. choice is strongly influenced by the way in which therapy
In the main, what I observe in reading the material is taught and Nicholas Pole in his article in this issue points
submitted for publication, is that there is a strong movement the way to a paradigm of teaching Shiatsu which does not
affirming the value of intuition within this field. A emphasise the development of intellectual and technical
communal voice seems to be firmly saying: “ Do not try to expertise but, instead, values the intuitive and mutual
imprison this creative field behind the bars of objectivity”. relationship between therapist and client.
As Peter den Dekker says and Pooley & Harris' I am persuaded that this is the path forwards for
research confirms, many of the complaints that are presented Shiatsu, acupressure and their sister therapies. If they try to
to us in this field are not organic, objective diseases but emulate the scientific methodology of systems such as
signals from a living organism trying to cope with the Chinese Herbalism they will fail since a large part of their
stresses of life. These conditions would be considered effectiveness lies in the intuitive relationship formed by
untreatable by the majority of orthodox doctors or else direct contact. Instead they should ally themselves with the
they would treat the symptom rather than strengthen the experiential practices such as psychotherapy, Qi Gong and
ability of the person to deal with the stressor. Many of the Meditation which emphasise the life process rather than
articles we receive try to show how Oriental Body Therapies the treatment of disease. I feel it is within this dimension
can be used to strengthen the person rather than treat the that we can gain respect from the orthodox world rather
disease. This is not scientifically quantifiable but is than being classed as a poor relation to the more ‘scientific’
extremely valuable. Many orthodox medical practitioners alternative medical disciplines.
such as David Jamison, writing in this issue, recognise that
this is an area that is not addressed in the general practice
of medicine and that could be delegated to complementary
approaches.
Dr Jamison’s emphasis is on the process of dying,
which orthodox medicine treats with pain killers, narcotics
and anti-depressants. As he points out, these do not help
the patient to die well, they just help him to cope with the
pain and fear often associated with the process.
Hilary Totah discusses the same theme within the
‘treatment’ of women experiencing menopause. Whereas
I
have only recently started to take an interest in of a building being a "Third Skin" and therefore having
Shiatsu. I, as a retired academic medical teacher, am an influence on our energy and particularly our Lung
beginning to have a new view as to some of the parts Function. It points our awareness to not only look at our
Shiatsu has to play alongside traditional orthodox medical bodies, diet and climate as causes of energetic
practices. disturbance but also the design of the space we live in
I have, in teaching at Oxford, been accustomed to the and inhabit.
tutorial method which in past generations was described as
“ reading with” and more recently as “walking beside” a
M
ovement upwards and outwards is expansive
pupil in his learning process. From reading issue 4 of this against gravity and towards the light.Movement
Journal I can see that Shiatsu has come to develop the same downwards and inwards is enclosing - with
idea in the treatment of the sick. By “walking beside” the gravity and towards darkness.
patient in their natural healing, the therapist encourages As an Asthma sufferer I know well the effects of
active participation in the healing process rather than the smothering, and that it can result from physical, emotional
passivity of “being treated”. or intellectual causes. As an Architect I know that buildings
As a medico trained in the western tradition I think can be psychologically and physically damaging: they
that one of the greatest contributions to medicine that has may be claustrophobic because space is too restrictive, or
been made in my life time has been in the hospice movement. interior colours may be overbearing. The lack of natural
The old philosophies said that the function of the physician daylight leads to depression, and the lack of outlook/view
was to provide happiness through health. Now we add that can have a similar effect. It may be that breathing difficulties
it is also to provide a way to die with peace of mind. are experienced due to bad air inside, which means that the
Much of the suffering surrounding death is related to building itself is not breathing. In the "old days" buildings
anxiety. A passenger’s experience of a fast car ride is more used to breath - they were built with natural living materials
fearful than the driver’s simply because the latter feels in - timber, stone and other organic matter. They were built
active control. Similarly, the fear of death and pain can without precise factory technology and were within our
probably be ameliorated by encouraging a more active, control.
participatory role in the patient. This is where I feel Shiatsu Buildings are basically our "Third Skin" (second skin
and related complementary therapies have a valuable role being clothes). The enclosure contains the space within
to play in the hospice environment. which we move. A buildings success in terms of the "Lung
The established treatment programmes within Function" is based upon its ability to serve our whole
hospices largely rely on drugs which, although sometimes being, in a way which is comforting and secure but allows
helpful and necessary in reducing pain to manageable for our full potential as MOVING, BREATHING beings.
levels, are often used to sedate the patient into an extremely Even death is not static - after death there is decay, and
passive posture. I feel that this strategy is expensive and then life. What is constant is change. Movement is change,
reduces the quality of both the patient’s life and his death. and breathing is movement.
Buildings influence our movement and our breathing
I would like to hear what experience complementary
But, we have the power to influence the design of our
practitioners have in this field. Of course, Shiatsu and
buildings.
other oriental therapies, with their long history, must have
more to offer than just a helping hand to patients on their
way to death. They must also offer something to those who
have hopes of cure and rehabilitation and, here again, they
may be able to help the patient to feel more “in charge” of Editor's note:
their life and more comfortable with their condition. This theme: how our buildings and environment are an
A poet once wrote “Send me a doctor old and fat- an extension of our self's boundaries and effect our energy is
endomorph with quiet hands”. Such doctors encourage explored with great poetry and passion in Places of the
peace rather than the drama of emergency. May we hope Soul by Christopher Day . It is also the subject of Feng
and pray that Shiatsu may play a part in re-establishing this Shui.
tradition; valuing the parasympathetic nervous system We invite anyone with experience of both Shiatsu and
and helping the quiet ways of natural healing to hold sway Architecture to submit an article on their interrelationships.
in the life, mind and body of the patient.
I
n the last decades Chinese medicine has been in a For a long time there was very little literature about
period of transition. Acupuncture, Shiatsu and herbal Shiatsu and about the historical context of oriental
medicine have found their way to the west and have medicine. I presumed that, in its original form, it was one
had to adapt to completely new cultural circumstances. coherent discipline in which all the different theoretical
This has created discussion and also confusion within both concepts and clinical strategies were in agreement with
the education and the practice of Chinese medicine. each other. On the other hand, I regularly came across
The term “Chinese medicine” refers to its land of contradictions within theory and practice. For instance,
origin, but does not justly cover its spread to countries such pulse diagnosis and meridian or hara diagnosis regularly
as Japan, Korea and Vietnam. In this context it would be gave inconsistent results. The literature of that time did not
better to refer it as “Oriental medicine” which includes a address these questions at all.
wide diversity of styles, ideas and interpretations. Oriental
medicine developed empirically. Whereas Western TCM, the legitimate heir?
medicine is searching for a ‘true’ and objective My study of acupuncture and Chinese Herbal
understanding of the human organism and it’s pathology, Medicine did not answer these questions either. I came
Oriental Medicine is satisfied by a multitude of sometimes across several styles including Worsley’s acupuncture
inconsistent descriptions because it is more concerned system, the French acupuncture school and the work of
with knowing what to do rather than knowing what is experienced Chinese and Japanese doctors but I still could
going on. Practice has always been the most important not discover a consistent foundation for all these approaches.
element and all theory is subordinate to it. The publication of one book seemed to change the
situation. In fact for everybody involved in the study or
Shizuto Masunaga practice of oriental medicine at that time, Ted Kaptchuck’s
Fifteen-years ago I started to study the Shiatsu style “The Web That Has No Weaver”[9] was a revelation. The
of Shizuto Masunaga which illustrated this principle very lucidity of the style that Kaptchuck described and which he
well. Central to his style was the development of sensitivity called “Traditional Chinese Medicine”, or ‘TCM’, was
for imbalance in the meridian-system. The approach was astounding. Many of the theories of oriental medicine,
hands-on and highly pragmatic, but it lacked a good which were formerly obscure, were at once clarified. TCM
theoretical foundation. In Japan this lack of theory was was presented as the legitimate heir of the Chinese medical
compensated for by concentrated practice during training tradition, a fact inherent in its name. All the other styles we
and a direct personal relationship between teacher and had formerly studied and practised, were suddenly viewed
pupil. This allowed for the development of skill through as corrupt interpretations of the true doctrine.
experience. In the west, our training involved less practice Many acupuncture and Shiatsu schools adopted TCM
and personal tutorial so the lack of systematic theory made within their training program. Some changed over entirely
itself felt. to TCM, others made it a core-element of their curriculum.
TCM formed a coherent system and was both easy to teach
Shiatsu in Western Culture
and to study. Acupuncture, Shiatsu and herbal-medicine
The social context in which we started to work with
could follow the same methods within the TCM structure.
Shiatsu was, of course, incomparable to the Japanese one.
The central feature of diagnosis was the identification of
Japanese clients know what Shiatsu is. Besides that, the
syndromes. This led automatically towards a treatment-
Japanese people are used to non-verbal communication, so
principle and then to a matching combination of acupuncture
the simple, silent process of a Shiatsu session without
points or a herbal prescriptions. The coherent theory,
explanation has a familiar flavour. Shiatsu was not well-
which for years we had been missing, seemed now to be
known in the Netherlands, so we had to present our work
readily available.
clearly and without a clear theoretical foundation, this was
not easy. How could one translate observations into a However, the intuitive perception of Qi and the
useful and comprehensible diagnosis? And what were the development of body awareness and sensitivity, all
strengths and limitations of Shiatsu in clinical practice? prominent subjects within Shiatsu, strangely enough did
Also, issues that are important in a Western therapeutic not seem topics in TCM. Apparently, the accent in TCM
setting, such as emotional expression and the interaction rested on correct objective diagnosis and treatment was
between practitioner and patient, are not addressed in seen to be separate from diagnosis. This was in contrast to
Japanese Shiatsu. In spite of these shortcomings, Shiatsu meridian-Shiatsu, in which touch was simultaneously
quickly grew in popularity. Two good hands and a honest both diagnosis and treatment. Working with TCM, practice
attitude form the heart of Shiatsu and to be touched in such became a more a matter of the intellect rather than the
a way leaves a deep impression behind. bodily intuition.
The essence of Shiatsu is simple - this is the source of its common response for people whose brains are used to
power - the honest desire to make the most effective acquiring information in strict, formal, analytical ways.
possible connection with someone else’s energy system Experiences which don’t fit this format are discounted at
with the intention of reaching, awakening, guiding and an unconscious level by the logic- and language-oriented
encouraging their natural unconscious healing process. left brain, and the teacher has to find ways of guiding the
If you injure yourself, your hand will be holding the student to access information which has been gathered by
part that hurts before you’ve had time to think. When your the more intuitive, pattern-oriented “touchy-feely” right
head aches, your fingers instinctively feel for the side of the brain.
indentations in the skull to find just the place to press.
When your digestion is stuck you might press deep into the Thought and Energy
abdomen searching for a place where pressure will get Energy follows thought, as Chinese Medicine tells
things moving. Part of you “just knows” (the classic us, but thought is complex and mostly unconscious and
description of an intuitive response) how to do this, but part takes place in brains that are divided into a right and left
of this knowing is the feedback system of nerves and side, which have different functions and are often in
meridians which is guiding your fingers so that they can conflict with each other. But if energy does follow thought,
tell exactly when they have “hit the spot”. then there can be nothing more powerful in Shiatsu than
It is this hitting the spot, this sense of when the the state of mind the giver brings, the state of mind that
connection is as strong as it could possibly be, that makes arises when the giver accepts as honestly as possible their
Shiatsu so effective. Before it, your fingers are still in role as an agent in another person’s healing process. Of
“search” mode, finding the exact location and angle to course this is not just a state of mind. As the giver you
press in with, or maybe the palm of your hand is sliding immediately become aware of physical and energetic
around finding just the place to hold. You stay with it - the changes within you as your whole body begins to align
feeling of connection builds, then peaks, then suddenly is itself with this healing intention. Indeed, since mind, body
gone, or slowly diminishes...and you begin to be aware - and energy are all one, you can use posture, movement and
somehow - of the next place along the meridian that is energy exercises to induce the state of mind, for example
asking for attention. by sitting quietly, or opening and relaxing your joints, or
doing Qi Gong. But all this must at some point lead to a
For an experienced practitioner this all happens with
decision to commit yourself to the purpose of helping
unconscious skill. For students of Shiatsu it seems to be the
someone else to heal, and a decision is a mental event, a
biggest mystery. “How do I feel this energy?”...”what do
thought which Ki can follow.
I have to do?”...”How long will it take?” Energy exercises
help - Qi Gong, Aikido and intuitive Shiatsu but somehow Because we work through energy and touch we have
students often get the impression that these experiential enormous flexibility and subtlety in how we use this state
exercises are separate from the formal curriculum. When of mind, this healing intention, but it is the intention itself
it comes to learning meridian pathways, points or hara which gives life to the physical and energetic techniques of
diagnosis, for various reasons including pressure of time a Shiatsu. The clearer the intention the more readily the
more academic approach is used: students are lined up in receiver’s energy system is to reveal its deeper needs, and
neat rows, haras are palpated in unison according to the the deeper the need that is revealed, the easier it is to feel
teacher’s instructions, and meridians are followed according an energetic response. This seems to me what Ryokyu
to the charts, whether a student is or feeling anything or Endo means when he says in “Tao Shiatsu” that the most
not. important thing for the giver is to listen “to the appeal of
life with honest empathy and humility. When the healer
In the past as a teacher, if a student told me they
does so, the patient develops an unconscious faith in the
weren’t feeling anything I would believe them and tell
healer and...the Kyo disorder clearly reveals itself”.
them that this sensitivity takes time to develop. Now I
realise that they have felt something, they just haven’t If this connection between the two people is the most
allowed themselves or trusted themselves enough to powerful teacher we can give ourselves then how might it
acknowledge it. There is often a verbal clue to this: as be used in teaching the routines and techniques of Shiatsu?
happened to me recently teaching an introductory class, I For the past couple of years I have been testing this idea,
asked people to tune into their own energy system and teaching Shiatsu backwards as it were, by starting by
notice what they felt. One woman answered, “I didn’t feel working with the healing intention - its ingredients and
anything really”...then she paused and her eyes flicked structure - and then bringing that state of mind and body
around a bit and she said “but I did feel suddenly hungry into the work of learning the normal Shiatsu curriculum.
and a strange tingling down my arms”. This is a very
A
s we breathe in we take in impressions via the In practice it is easier to feel the breath of the person
senses, as we breathe out we let go of what we when working directly on their back, Hara or chest but with
took in. The process happens with each in-breath more experience it is possible to feel the breath of awareness
and with each out-breath; the process of birth and dying. in the legs, in the arms, in a knee, in an ankle or a toe.
Yet, as we breathe in we receive impressions and Basically where attention is, breath is; where attention is,
simultaneously we discriminate, we assess certain energy flows.
impressions as favourable and others as not favourable. In Breathing goes on all the time, for all of us regardless
this act of in-breath we practise “becoming”, we shape our of the activity, place or time. It is therefore a most suited
reality, our sense of self; we identify with our likes and tool to exercise awareness, and to stimulate healing. It is
dislikes. We create our personality. a true barometer of where we are at any given moment.
The out-breath is essentially an act of emptying, of Every thought, emotion, opinion or idea we have, is
letting go, a freeing of identity in order to receive on the accompanied by a change in the breathing! Many times we
next in-breath in an unconditioned way, free from past are not aware of this but it occurs all the same. By changing
fears of future anxieties. This is the potential of breathing. one’s breathing, by placing the attention on the softness of
Breathing is more than the process of air passing an the out-breath, one can change the energy of a room, one
and out of the body, breathing is also the consciousness, can turn an argument into a dialogue. Therefore the
the level of awareness of each person. practitioner can help change her client’s kyo-jitsu condition
In Healing-Shiatsu working with the breath of one’s simply by practising awareness of the breath, especially at
client is a central tool to diagnose and to evaluate the level first the awareness of the out-breath in her own belly and
of awareness of the client. By working with the breath one simultaneously in her clients.
is exercising and awakening the client’s awareness therefore Recently on a meditation retreat, an acupuncturist
stimulating their own healing potentiality. Students are friend of mine and I decided to test this, that breath is
often suprised that by working with the breath their clients awareness, is one’s healing potentiality. Daily he took my
become involved in their own healing process in a most pulses to check the state of balance but did not give any
direct and immediate way and at that moment strengthen treatment. My practice was simply sitting and walking
their healing potential. meditation. Both practices are based on mindfulness of the
Letting-go of the breath, letting-go of becoming, breath neither holding nor pushing, just experiencing the
letting go of the emotional weight necessary to keep our rise and fall of the belly as one is breathing in and out and
personality going, is a first act of healing, then taking in is allowing all thoughts, feelings, emotions and ideas to do
free from conditions, free from holding on to a sense of the same, to rise on the in-breath and to fall on the out-
“self”. Thus the healing potential of each individual breath, nothing more.
returns to it natural tyrhm. After the 7-day retreat my friend exclaimed that the
As students discover their own potentiality through energies were in perfect balance, no need for any treatment
the mindfulness practice of breathing they also become and he was truly suprised. He did not realize that awareness
more attuned to their client’s breathing. In Healing- of the breath could be healing.
Shiatsu the touch-pressure is applied on the out-breath of Practices based on sounds, laughter, chanting, all
the client, gently releasing on their in-breath. Furthermore involve the relaxing of the belly and a deepening of the
through their own practice the practitioner will have breath. Furthermore, if the awareness is placed on the out-
experienced that there is a gap between the end of the out- breath, the effects will be more long lasting and deeper,
breath and the start of the next in-breath. This gap is not affecting the whole person and releasing the need for
the same as holding one’s breath. Naturally as the out- “becoming”.
breath ends there is a sense of “no-need to become, no- Giving shiatsu with the emphasis on the breath touches
need to be reborn” and the awareness rests in that gap or the person at her core, touches her consciousness thus
space; this is where the practitioner can meet the client’s triggering an awakening which always sends healing waves
awareness and potentiality, this is where healing takes to all layers of the personalilty.
place. I would be interested to know of practitoners who
To cultivate the awareness of the “space” between include the awareness of the breath into their work and
out-breath and in-breath is vital in the assessing and who would like more practical suggestions to help them
exercising of the healing potential. If at that point both incorporate this into their healing practice. Please feel free
practitioner and client can rest their attention in that to contact me.
“space” a true healing is experienced. This is the beginning The Orchard, Lower Maescoed, Hereford, HR2 0HP
of healing the human condition from its incessant grasping Tel: 01873-860207.
at the next in-breath in order to re-affirm its “personality”.
The traditional Chinese energy organs have and grounding run through this anatomical structure and
meridians that run into the arms or the legs but not end in the first and second
both. For instance, the Lung meridian ends in the hand toes (Fig 1).
and the Spleen meridian begins in the foot but neither,
traditionally, run in both arm and leg. The Legs Move the
Shizuto Masunaga extended the meridian system Body
so that each meridian runs in all the limbs, expressing The fourth and fifth toes
the opinion that holistic energy functions should be articulate through the cuboid
accessible everywhere. and calcaneus to the fibular.
However useful his extensions have been, they Research by Bonnie
miss a point that was very important in ancient Chinese Bainbridge Cohen [1,2] has
thought: “Arms reach to Heaven and Legs stand on the shown how this section of the
Earth”. [6] leg and the muscles attached
We move our arms to express ourselves and to to it, such as the peroneus
manipulate the outer world. They are particularly human muscles, are related to the
limbs, since most other animals use their forelimbs development of postural
primarily for getting around. Since we have evolved alignment between the legs
into a vertical posture, the arms have become free to and the spine. Proper Fig. 2: Peroneus muscles align the
evolve fine manipulative and expressive movements. alignment means that force legsobythatangling the foot, and knee
a push is transmitted
from the legs is transmitted vertically up the body
So it makes sense that the Fire and Metal
meridians, expressing energies which relate to the outer smoothly into forward
world and to our emotions and consciousness should movement of the body. If this chain of structure is low
run in the arms. in tone then a push from the legs tends to result in forces
The legs, on the other hand, are more related to that push the body sideways rather than forwards. This
supporting the body and to moving it. It is clear then means that the upper body needs to be controlled and
that the Earth meridians, expressing the nourishment contracted in order to pull the body back into the
and support of the organism and the Water & Wood required line of movement.
meridians, expressing the power of primal energy to Appropriately the Bladder and Gall Bladder
move us and direct us, should run in the legs. channels, ending in these toes are energetically related
So the division of the meridians into the arms and to how we direct our Will smoothly into movement of
the legs have a deep meaning which is specific to the the body i.e. how our intention is linked to our actions.
relationship between energy and human anatomy. The The Bladder meridian guides the movements which
Fire and Metal meridians are related to the Mind and to bring the leg into alignment with the spine and tonifies
Heaven. The Earth, Wood and Water meridians are the foot extensor muscles, such as the gastrocnemius,
related to the Body and to the Earth Element. We now which initiate pushing actions such as walking and
examine in detail how the functional climbing. In the torso, the Bladder channel provides
structure of the limbs reflects the support to the spine so that the horizontal component to
energy functions of the meridians the force is elastically ‘contained’. Effectively the
running through them. Bladder channel in the back helps the spine to act like a
spring.
Legs Relate to the Ground The Gall Bladder meridian provides support for
The knee, tibia, talus and the first the sides and also restrains the horizontal forces in the
two toes have evolved to support the whole body. The muscular tone produced by balanced
body and to push against the ground . energy in the GB channel helps structures such as the
The first and second toes articulate pelvis, ribs and shoulder girdle to move as a unit with
through the talus to the tibia. The tibia is a the force moving up the spine. Low energy in the GB
strong straight bone through which force means that these structures ‘wobble’, dragging on the
can be applied, so it connects to the movement and causing a directionless feeling in the
ground and supports the body. The Earth person. On the other hand, mis-alignment of the legs
meridians, energetically related to support and spine require the GB to be hyper-tonified or ‘jitsu’
in order to pull the movement back into line. This
Fig. 1 Tibialis Anterior Muscle guides weight into Talus
results in a subjective experience of needing to be ‘in
foot by drawing the posture forward onto the balls of the control’ and a lack of zestful spontaneity. For a more
feet. and by modulating plantar flexion to guide pushing
movements into the big toe.. ST & SP meridians tone detailed discussion of these patterns see Development
this muscle
and Energy [2] but, in essence, the Bladder channel
CONTACT: SEED, Smokey Hole, Uplyme, Lyme Regis, Dorset. DT7 3SJ. Tel: 01297 442523
T
hese days books and articles about the menopause Hot flushes and sweating are the most common
proliferate, mostly because a large and articulate menopausal symptoms,occuring in 70-80% of menopausal
group of women are reaching menopausal age. We women and vaginal atrophy in 10%. Other symptoms
were the sixties generation. Yet the subject is still include headaches, palpitations, pain in the joints, insomnia,
surrounded in mystery and taboo in society as a whole. In mood swings, anxiety, irritability, loss of libido, stress
a culture where our popular images of women are slender, incontinence and osteoporosis (after menopause rather
young models with perfect skin, some of whom have than during). Not all women suffer from these symptoms
barely reached puberty, let alone been through childbirth, - 20% suffer severe symptoms, 60% mild symptoms and
older women are not valued. The menopause, seen as a 20% none at all.
symbol of the end of youth, is perceived as a problem or What is the cause of these symptoms, leading to the
a syndrome to be treated and denied. label ‘menopausal syndrome’ and the image of the
menopausal woman as irrational, unstable and past her
Western view of the menopause
prime? Physiologically speaking, the rapid decline in
Lets look firstly at what the actual physiological
oestrogen levels may be hard for the body to adapt to -
changes are, as a woman approaches menopause. In a
similar to ‘drug withdrawal ‘- and the menopause is a time
woman of childbearing age, each month one egg from the
of adjusting to changing levels of hormones. Most
ovaries begins to ripen, stimulated by follicle stimulating
menopausal symptoms disappear after this period of
hormone (FSH), The ovary will start to produce oestrogen
adjustment. It seems that hot flushes, vaginal dryness and
and the egg is released from the ovary, leaving behind the
stress incontinence can be attributed directly to loss of
corpus luteum. The corpus luteum continues to produce
oestrogen but what of the other symptoms?
oestrogen and progesterone unless there is no pregnancy,
in which case the endometrium is shed from the wall of the There is a good deal of evidence to suggest that
uterus and menstruation occurs. menopausal syndrome can be exacerbated by stress.
Certainly, in the middle years a woman often faces big
The cessation of ovulation occurs between the ages
lifestyle changes - children leaving home, relationship and
of 45 and 50 for most women and is a gradual process.
job changes, as well as change in status and how society
Usually the onset of menopause will be marked by some
sees her. Women often see their role as tied into their
symptoms - hot flushes, mood swings, irregularity or
ability to reproduce - their usefulness as furthering the
change in menstruation. Oestrogen blood levels fall below
species. Our popular images of women in advertising and
the point necessary to produce uterine bleeding, periods
the media are of youth and beauty - firm flesh, flat
become less frequent and eventually cease. For the next
stomachs and no wrinkles- an impossible ideal even for
year there is a further decline in the levels of oestrogen
most young women. The wisdom of age and experience is
until it stabilizes with virtually no oestrogen secreted by
ignored rather than respected. Our grandmothers - the
the ovaries. Although the type of oestrogen responsible for
elders, retire to the periphery of family and community
menstruation is no longer produced a form of active
life, often isolated and forgotten - a burden on the state and
oestrogen is produced after menopause. Androstenadione
their families. In cultures where a woman’s status increases
is produced in the ovaries and adrenals and changes to
after menopause women have very few or no symptoms.
oestrone (a type of oestrogen) in the fat cells of the body.
The Indian women of Mexico become heads of their
This may account for many women putting on weight after
married son’s family. In certain parts of India, Muslim
menopause and fatter women having less problems at
women can discard the veil after menopause. In ancient
menopause. Even if oestrogen is given in other forms, the
mythology post menopausal women were revered for
body changes it to oestrone.
retaining their ‘wise blood’, becoming healers, givers of
During menopause there is a rapid decline in the initiation and holy women, the archetype of the Crone - a
levels of oestrogen and the view that aging is a process of woman of power. The biological event of menopause, the
degeneration implies that womens’ bodies are unconscious stresses of our cultural images plus the very
malfunctioning without their original level of oestrogen. real stresses of life changes in the middle years are the
Hence the popularity of Hormone Replacement Therapy causes of ‘menopausal syndrome’.
(HRT). But if a woman’s body is no longer preparing for
pregnancy each month does it still need such high levels TCM and the menopause
of oestrogen? It is certainly true that many women suffer From the point of view of Chinese medicine,
various uncomfortable symptoms at the onset of the menstruation is due to a superabundance of Blood, spilling
menopause which can last a number of years as ‘the over every 28 days. As we age, production of qi and blood
change’ takes place. So what are these symptoms and how decline and the essence or ‘jing’ begins to be consumed.
do they arise? Menstrual blood is the physical manifestation of ‘jing’ in
This course is for people who want to combine learning, self-discovery and relaxation in one of the
most beautiful, unspoilt coastlines of Spain. There will be opportunities for plenty of fun, sun and
sea as well as study.
It can be taken by anyone at whatever level in training and provides
a complete introduction to the Six Forms of Touch and the
approach of Movement Shiatsu
The Six Forms of Touch is a system of training in how you can
work with the energy functions of Oriental Medicine by the way you
contact a person and involves self-exploration and personal
growth rather than the learning of techniques.
The course is self-contained but, after taking it, you will be
eligible to join the Professional Diploma training in Movement
Shiatsu in England with Bill Palmer.
Contact: David Ventura, c/- Nou 18 #2, San Pere de Ribes, 08810 BARCELONA .
Tel: +34 (3 )896 3630 or
School for Experiential Education, Smoky Hole, Uplyme, Lyme Regis, Dorset.
Aim of Survey 50 years with a mean age of 38.8 years. The range of
No scientific research into the nature and effect of experience as a Member of the Register of the Shiatsu
shiatsu treatment has been conducted. The aim of thius Society(MRSS) was from 1 to 9 years with a mean of 5.5
survey is to describe the main conditions with which years. Five of the practitioners were also qualified MRSS
clients present for shiatsu treatment in the UK. It is hoped teachers, two were training to be teachers and the rest were
that this will also act as a platform for further work into the practitioners. Three had other occupations: one a
effectiveness of shiatsu with partiular conditons. physiotherapist, one as a rebirther and one in business.
Two practitioners worked within the NHS, one as a
Method physiotherapist, who worked with Shiatsu on referrals
The survey is being conducted in two stages. The from consultants in cardiology and neurology, the other
first stage is a longitudinal study requiring written answers worked in a hospital out-reach centre for people with drug
to the questions on presenting conditions. The second abuse/ addiction problems. These two have frequent contact
stage will be a wide sample with a shorter questionnaire. with the NHS and five said contact was rare and one said
In the first stage, a standardised form was developed there was never contact.
for recording patient date including age, gender, illness The maximum number of different clients treated by
conditions and treatment. The form was used by ten a practitioner within the ten week period was 50, with a
experienced Shiatsu practitioners to record client details minimum of 13 different clients treated over the ten week
prospectively over a period of ten weeks. Clients who period and the mean was 34.5. Between them the ten
presented for treatment more than once during this period practitioners had treated a total of 345 different clients
were counted once only. Some information was also over the ten weeks. There were 260 female clients and 84
collected on the practitioners themselves. male clients (one missing answer). There was a wide range
of ages for both male and female Shiatsu clients - see fig
Report on Stage 1 1. The most common band was 36-40 years. The age and
Data collection for Stage 1 has now been completed. gender reflects the patient profile from other complementary
Using the criteria of over three years Shiatsu experience, therapies, for example, acupuncture (Wadlow and Peringer
balanced gender and geographical spread, ten practitioners 1996).
co-operated in collecting data on their clients over ten
weeks. Initially, only women practitioners volunteered 34.4% of the clients were coming for their first
and there were no volunteers from London. London- Shiatsu. 31.5 % were also having another form of
based, male, Shiatsu practitioners were subsequently invited Complementary Health Treatment. 38.1% were receiving
to participate. treatment from a medically qualified practitioners.
Data collection commenced in November 1995 and The first stage questionnaire included open-ended
was completed in April 1996. Practitioners were requested questions for the conditions presenting for Shiatsu.
to return information periodically to ensure that the Practitioners were asked to record the patient’s main
information was current and not retrospective. Patient reasons for presenting for Shiatsu and the patient’s
anonymity was maintained at all times. presenting symptoms. This was because it was anticipated
The data on the client’s reasons for presenting for Fig 1.
Shiatsu treatment was classified using the categories
described by the International Classification of Primary
Care (Lambers and Wood 1987). The clients main
symptoms were classified according the to ‘patient defined
problem’ categories identified by Thomas et al (1991)
point out that the reasons for an encounter should be
understood and agreed by the patient and the provider and
should be recognised by the patient as acceptable
descriptions. However, in this survey, it must be
acknowledged that where conditions are described using a
medical diagnosis there is no supporting evidence for this.
Results of Stage 1
Of the ten practitioners who co-operated with survey,
6 were female and 4 male. Their ages ranged from 33 to
The JSOBT aims to provide a stimulus for the development and growth of Shiatsu and other Oriental touch
therapies through publication of original research, philosophy and other high quality articles from experienced
practitioners worldwide.
It aims to provide an international channel of communication. Articles already published in national newsletters
may be republished to reach a wider audience in the JSOBT.
Articles written originally in a foreign language must be translated . To encourage writing by people whose
expertise is in other fields we offer a free editing service in collaboration with the author.
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Cheques should be in pounds sterling to JSOBT.
Article reprints are also available from 1 & 2 Adverts for next edition should be submitted
£2.00 for up to three,(£3.00 outside UK) before March 15th
In Search of Style
by Peter den Dekker 4
Teaching Energy Awareness in Shiatsu
by Nicholas Pole 9
The Breath of Awareness
by Sonia Moriceau 13
The Six Divisions
by Bill Palmer 15
Wise Women:
Making Informed Choices at Menopause
by Hilary Totah 20
Research
A Survey of Illness Conditions Presenting for Shiatsu 26
by Nicola Pooley and Philip Harris
Book Reviews 24
Shiatsu for Women by Suzanne Franzen and Ray Ridolfi
The Wisdom of the Body Moving by Linda Hartley
As Snowflakes Fall: Shiatsu as Spiritual Practice by Simon Fall
Reviews by Bill Palmer
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